Not sure

I threw this out there earlier while we were waiting and got some interesting responses, so I thought I'd do the same here - albeit a little differently along with a poll.

Heard them talking about him on the radio and apparently reporters that talked to him in the locker room as players were packing up said that he sounded like he knows he may not be coming back (he was very sullen, etc and sounded like there was some finality in his voice)

After everything that happened this season, what are your thoughts and do you want him back?

I'm assuming these "Pro Bowls" have inflated his ego to quite a bit more than the $2-3 million dollars/year he's worth. And if so, goodbye and good luck Brandon.

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So you think he's worth about as much as James Sanders? I'm as big a Sanders fan as anyone, but Meriweather's better. Unless you think Sanders is overpaid in the first place, but after the year he had this year, I don't see many people sticking with that argument.

His base salary next year is $650K with escalators, etc, that could take it somewhat higher but he's really cheap. He'll be back unless we trade him in lieu of losing him for nothing this time next year.

There are too many variables involving the CBA to know for sure. If I understand correctly, right now no teams can trade players for picks. So he's here unless we outright cut him, which I don't see.

Assuming (and with these twits, it's a pretty big assumption) that the CBA gets worked out BEFORE the draft and things go back to relative normalcy:

I'd explore a trade, just to see what people would be willing to pay. And I would draft a replacement just in case. But, at the end of the day he will most likely be the starting SS on the 2011 Patriots. And we'll have to see what happens...will he FINALLY turn the corner we thought he would this year? Or will he be his maddeningly inconsistent self?

I was most likely a bit harsher on Meriweather Sunday night than I should have been, but it was a rough night. Unfortunatley, whenever I see Meriweather (which is everyday, since he is the picture for January on the Patriots calander) I just see him getting dragged into the endzone by Braylon Edwards while McCourty was trying to punch the ball out. And it leaves an awful taste in the mouth.

“Everyone knows what he’s capable of,’’ said Sanders. “He goes out there and makes plays, and a lot of teams don’t even try to throw it his way because they know what can possibly happen if he gets a good bead on the ball.

“He’s been playing the same way for the last three years, making plays and playing at a high level for us. That’s what we continue to need going forward.’’

And it isn’t just his teammates who come to his defense.

“I like him,’’ said an NFL personnel executive whose duties include studying the Patriots. “He plays hard, he flies around.

...

“He’s got range and he’s got some ball skills. I’d like to have him on my team.’’

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and also

... he has not had one off-field problem in New England.

He quickly attached himself to Rodney Harrison, and now spends much of his time with respected veteran James Sanders. They are in the film room nearly every day at 7:30 a.m. and sometimes put in more work together at night.

So you think he's worth about as much as James Sanders? I'm as big a Sanders fan as anyone, but Meriweather's better. Unless you think Sanders is overpaid in the first place, but after the year he had this year, I don't see many people sticking with that argument.

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I don't disagree with you but just looking at their stats from this season on paper they look almost identical. It would be interesting to know how many plays each were in over the season.

Meriweather is signed through 2011. Unless Belichick told him that they plan to cut or trade him, I don't know why he would be acting like he isn't coming back. He has too much value to cut and there is no guarantee they can get a trade partner. Besides, Belichick wouldn't even let on that he planned to trade him until he had a contingency plan via the draft or free agency.

I don't disagree with you but just looking at their stats from this season on paper they look almost identical. It would be interesting to know how many plays each were in over the season.

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FWIW, Meriweather was on the field for a lot more plays. When healthy and not being benched, he's usually right near the top for number of snaps each game for our defenders.

You can use this to say a) he should've made more plays if he's out there that much and Sanders stat-line was comparable) or b) BB obviously has confidence in him if he's putting him on the field that much.

I'm not sure with him. He's just never felt like a "Patriot" to me. Not sure what it is with him. I don't think BB is too crazy over him, considering how he benched him the first couple games of the year b/c he was doing his own thing or whatever, I don't know. He's definitely got the respect of other NFL players though since he's getting voted to the Pro Bowl by them. I'll leave this decision to the Hoodie.